Portable attachment for conveyers



Jul 22 1924.

G. E. FAIRCLOTH ET AL PORTABLE ATTACHMENT FOR CONVEYERS Filed Nov. 28.1919 4 Sheets-Sheet l 11 inx -mi l ll. all. nlwlniv July 22, 1924.1,592,093

G. E. FAIRCLOTH ET AL PORTABLE ATTACHMENT FOR CONVEYERS Filed Nov. 281919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 28. 1919 G. E.FAIRCLOTH ET AL PORTABLE ATTACHMENT FOR CONVEYERS Jul 22 1924.

July 22 1924. 1,502,093

G. E. FAIRCLOTH ET AL PORTABLE ATTACHMENT FOR CONVEYERS Filed Nov. 28.1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 To all whom it may concern:

Fatented July 22, 192 I GY. EL FAIROLOTH AND WILLIAM M.

mosELnY, or rear an. 1'

on, mas, as-

SIG-K035 TO THE TEXAS COMPANY, OF NEW-YORK, N; Y., A CORPORATION OFApplication filed November 28, 1919. fierlal It'd 341,143.

Be it known that we, GRADY E. FAIRoLoTH and WILLIAM M. MOSELEY, bothcitizens of the United States, and both residents of Port Arthur, countyof Jefierson, and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Portable Attachments for Conveyers, of which thefollowing is a specification. 7

Our invention relates to conveyers and other apparatus for manipulatingcases and packages and has special reference to means for taking casesor packages from storage tiers and delivering them to a continuouslyoperating conveyer.

One object of our invention is tovprovide a relatively simple andeffective conveyer attachment that shall be readily portable from onelocation to another and particularly adapted for carrying boxes or casesfrom the to of tall stacks in a storaJ-ge warehouse, and elivering themat reg ar predetermined intervals to a continuously operating conveyer.

In order that our invention may be thoroughly understood, we will nowproceed to describe th same in the following specification, andwill'then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

' Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conveyer attachment arranged andconstructed in accordance with our invention and constituting anembodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same apparatus.

Figure 3 is a partially sectional elevation corresponding to Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partially sectional plan view corresponding to Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a partially sectional elevation illustrating the portabilityof the apparatus.

The structure illustrated comprises a frame 10 which is supported fortransportation on wheels 11 and 12 but may be supported on the wheels 11and on jack screws 13 when the device is operating in a fixed position.

The frame 10 is triangular in side elevation and supports an inclined,laterally movable chute 14. In addition the frame sup ports a pair ofoppositely extending 90 degree roller avlty chutes 15 and 16 which arearrange to deliver packages and boxes to the top of the chute 14, thelatter being adjusted in pos1t1on to cooperate with either the one orthe other of the gravity chutes. In Figure 2 the laterally adjustablechute 14 is shown cooperating with the 90 degree roller gravity chute15. I

- The ad ustment of the chute 14 is effected by means of a pair ofspaced adjusting screws 17 and 18 which are interconnected by sprocketwheels 19 and chain 20 or by other suitable gearing so that they operateconcurrently when the crank or other suitable lever 21 is attached toeither of them and operated.

The chute 14 comprises a frame structure 22 on WhlCh are supported aplurality of shafts 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. A sprocket wheel 28 issecured to the shaft 23, and cooperates with the driving sprocket 29 insupporting an endless chain or belt 30, towhich lugs 31 are secured. Agear wheel 32 is also secured to shaft 24 and meshes with the gear wheel33 on shaft 25. The chute 14 further comprises a conveyer belt or chain34, having a plurality of spaced lugs 35 thereon, which extends over andis driven by a sprocket wheel 36 on shaft 25. The belt or chain 34 alsocooperates with idler sprockets 37 on shaft 26, and 38 on shaft 27. Theshaft 27 is adjustable in response to takeup screws 39 and the shaft 23is adjustable in response to takeup screws 40, thus the chains or belts30 and 34 are maintained taut.

Mounted on the shaft 26 is a brake drum 41 with which cooperates a brakeband 42, the arrangement being such as to preclude too great a freedomof movement of the chain 34. When the apparatus is supported by thewheels 11 and 12 as shown in Figure 5, wheel frames 43 are fastened in.a fixed position to the frame 10 by means of pins 44 and the machinemay be guided and drawn about by workmen by means of handles 45pivotally attached to wheel forks 46. The wheels 11 are mounted in theforks Q raoa ee 46 which are sup-ported in bearing brackets 47 on theframe and are free to turn to constitute steering wheels.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Assuming that the machine is wheeled to a position over a travellingapron conve er 48.,havin upwardly extending lugs or flig ts 49, whichposition is adjacent to the tiers or stacks of boxes or cases which areto be transferred to the conveyer. When the apparatus is so located, thejack screws 13 are screwed downwardly by means of cranks 50 so as totake the weight of the frame from the wheels 12 and permit the pins 44to be removed. The frame is then lowered by turning the screws in thereverse direction until the projections 31 of the chain 30 come into therange of and are drlven by the flights or lugs 49 of the apron conveyer.

Assuming that the apron conveyer 1s moving in the direction of the arrow51, the result is that the chain 30 is actuated and drives the sprocket29. This in turn drives the gears 32 and 33, the sprocket 36 and causesthe chain or link belt 34' to travel in the direction of the arrow 52.

Cases or boxes which are to be lowered to the main conveyer 48 are fedinto the machine at the upper end of gravity chute 15 from which theyenter the top of the auxiliary conveyer or chute 14. The cases or boxesengage the successive lugs 35 and slide down the chute 14 by gravity,their speed, however, being determined by the lugs 35 which travel at asubstantlally uniform rate determined by the movement of the mainconveyer. i

The boxes or cases are released as each in swings downwardly at thesprocket whee 36. At this point the case or box, such as the case 53 ofFigure 3, slides'out of the chute at the lower end and is delivered tothe apron conveyer 48. The arrangement of lugs 35 is such that each caseis dropped on to the main conveyer between the lugs or flights 49thereof, and is straightened on the conveyer by flexible arms or fingers54 which are attached to the bottom of the chute.

If it is more convenient to feed the boxes or cases into the rollergravity chute 16 the chute 14 is adjusted laterally from the ositionshown in Figure 2, to a correspond- 1ng position on the opposite sidewhere it is in position to cooperate with the chute 16. The lateraladjustment being accomplished as hereinbefore set forth'by means ofscrews 17 and 18.

-An apparatus of preferred form and construction has been illustratedand described for the purpose of showing a way in which this inventionmay be used, but the inventive thought upon which this application isbased, is broader than the illustrative embodiment thereof, and wetherefore intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appendedclaims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a traveling main conveyer having a plurality ofupwardly extending lugs, an auxiliary conveyer that comprises an endlessbelt arranged in cooperative relation to said main conveyer for theexchange of packages therewith and means for driving said endless beltadapted to be actuated by said lugs on the main conveyer.

2. A portable attachment for traveling belt conveyers having a series offlights", that comprises an endless belt arranged in cooperativerelation to the conveyer for the exchan. e of packages therewith, and adriving mec anism for the endless belt of theattachment adapted to beactuated by the flights of the traveling belt conveyer.

3. An attachment for conveyers having a movable member with flightsthereon, comprising a portable means for feeding objects from a higherlevel to the conveyer, and means adapted to be actuated by said flightsfor operating the feeding means'of the attachment.

4. A portable attachment for conveyers having a movable member withflights arrange at intervals thereon, comprising a frame, feeding meansmounted thereon" and arranged to transmit objects from a higher level tothe conveyer, a belt for operating said feeding means and a. drivingmechanism for the attachment adapted to be actuated by the flights onthe main conveyer.

5. A portable attachment for a mainjconveyer having a continuouslymovable member, comprising a frame, a pair of chutes extending indiflerent directions, an endless belt for guidingpackages on to saidmain conveyer adapted to be adjusted to cooperate with one or the otherof said chutes, and means actuated by the movable member of the mainconveyer for driving the endless belt of the attachment.

6. A portable attachment for a main conveyer having a continuouslymovable member, comprisin a frame, a pair of chutes extending indlflerent directions, an endless belt for guiding packages on to themain conveyer adapted to be adjusted to cooperate with one ort ing meansadapted to cooperate with and be directly driven by the main conveyer?for actuating the belt of the attachment.

7. A portable attachment for a main conveyer having flights arranged atintervals thereon, comprising a frame, a pair of chutes thereonextending in diflerent directions, an endless belt conveyer adjustablymounted on the fre and adapted to cooperate e other of said chutes, anddrivtill lllll lid naoaoee wi one or the other of said chutes, and

a rlving mechanism for the endless belt of the attachment comprising adriving chain having lugs adapted to cooperate with and be actuated bythe flights of the main conve er.

8. portable attachment for a main conveyer; having lugs arranged atintervals thereon, comprising a frame, an auxiliary conveyer mountedthereon and arranged to transmit articles from a high level to the mainconveyer at a lower level, 1ugs positioned at intervals on the auxiliaryconveyertransmit objects from a high level to the tlti main conveyer ata lower level, a plurality of gravity chutes mounted at the top of saidframe and adapted to deliver articles to the auxiliary conveyer, meansfor adjusting said auxiliary conveyer to place it in operativeconnection severally with said gravity chutes, and means actuated by thelugs of the main conveyer for operating the auxiliary conveyer.

10. A portable attachment for a main conveyer having lugs arranged atintervals thereon, comprising a frame, an auxiliary conveyer mountedthereon and arranged to deliver objects from a high level to theconveyer at a lower level, means for adjusting said auxiliary conveyerin a lateral direction, and means actuated by said lugs for operatingthe auxiliary conveyer.

11. An attachment for conveyers having a movable member with flightsthereon, comprising means for feeding objects to the conveyer, and meansadapted to be actuated by said flights for operatin said feeding means.

12. A conveyer attac ment comprising a frame, a lurality of fixedgravity chutes mounted thereon, an inclined chute movably mounted onsaid frame, and means for actuatin said chute to produce a lateralmovement fiiereof to co-operate with one of said gravity chutes.

13. A conveyer attachment comprising a frame, laterally disposed spacedadjusting screws, an inclined chute mounted thereon, and means foroperating said screws to produce a lateral movement of said chute.

14. A. conveyer attachment comprising a frame, a laterally movable chutemounted thereon, spaced adjusting screws in engagement with said movablechute, a sprocket wheel disposed on each of the adj'ustin screws, anendless chain interconnectin sai sprocket wheels, and a crank attacha 1eto one of the adjustihg screws for effecting the operation thereof toproduce lateral movementof the chute. I I

15. A portable destacker comprising a frame, a pair of oppositely.extending in-' clined gravity chutes projecting from the upper portionof the frame, a laterally movable inclined chute operatively mounted onthe frame and adapted for. adjustment so that its higher end registerswith the lower end of one of the gravit chutes, and means for adjustingthe latera 1y movable chute.

16. The combination with a main conveyer moving in a predetermineddirection, of a portable conveyer attachment, comprising a frame, atravelling belt carried thereby, and

interconnecting mechanism cooperating with the main conveyer for drivingthe working portion of the travelling belt in a direction substantiallythe same as that of the main conveyer.

17. The combination with a main conveyer provided with flights moving ina predetermined direction, ofa portable conveyer attachment adapted tobe positioned above the conveyer, comprising a frame, a travelling beltcarried thereby, a driving chain provided with flights disposed aboveand in cooperative driving engagement with the flights of the mainconveyer, and means interposed between the driving chain and the beltfor driving the carrying portion of said travelling belt in a directionsubstantially the same as that of the main conveyer.

18. The combination with a main conveyer having a series of flights, ofa portable conveyer attachment adapted to be positioned above the mainconveyer and comprising a frame, a travelling belt carried by the frame,a driving chain provided with flights and having a stretch of the chainnormally disposed in a plane parallel to the main conveyer, drivingmeans for interconnecting the chain and the travelling belt, a luralityof wheels supporting the frame, and means for taking the weight of theattachment from certain of the wheels to render the portable attachmentimmovable and for subsequently lowering one end of the attachment tobring the flights of the driving chain into driving engagement with.those of the main conveyer.

19. In combination with a main conveyer, a portable attachmentcomprising a frame, a

laterally movable inclined chute mountedgg neoenee attachment adepted tobe fispoeedl above the *ing and raising the driving chain into and mainconveyer enol comprising e frame, a, out of operative drivingengegemenfc wllln 1o travelling belt supported on the frame, e themeinconveyen driving chain earned]. lay the frame adlepteol In W sswhereof We. have hereunto set 5 to be revised and. lowered reletivethereto end 0111 11911101 s 18th dey of November, 19W. provided with fiihts, interconnecting operating mechanism etween the drlvingchein GRADYE, FAIRCLQTH. and the erevelling belt, end means for lower- WHALJIAM M.MUSELEY,

